Indian Butter chicken recipe is the Indian’s all time best for non-vegetarians. This delicious mouth watering flavours combined with tender and juicy chicken makes it a global favorite. A dish filled with aromatic flavors of spices and goodness of butter that melts in your mouth is the only thing that will transport you to heaven on earth. The best part about cooking butter chicken at home is the ingredients list. Ingredients in the recipe are easy to find from any grocery store or supermarket. Before we get started on how to cook butter chicken, here are some things you need to know:
Why is it called butter chicken
Butter chicken was initially originated in North India in 1948. This delicious delight is a recipe by Kundan Lal Gujral, an Indian chef and restaurateur based in New Delhi. The best part is that butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani meaning chicken with butter, is similar to British tikka masala.
Butter chicken recipe includes a gravy rich in butter and cream that gives the curry a smooth rich texture. Adding cream to garnish on top of the dish to increase the richness and give an authentic twist to the visual representation of butter chicken. Now let’s get started with how to cook butter chicken.
How to cook butter chicken
Butter chicken ingredients
- ⅓ cup plain nonfat yogurt
- 1 tablespoon tandoori masala powder
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ onion, chopped
- 1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons cooking oil, divided
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon Indian chilli powder
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
what spices go in butter chicken:
A combination of aromatic spices like garam masala, turmeric powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder and salt will make a great sauce. You may even directly purchase ready made butter chicken masala but the authentic separate flavours poured in the marination give a different level to the butter chicken. This is one of the best
How to make the gravy:
The gravy forms the most important part of the butter chicken recipe. To be precise, a few ingredients can make a good gravy. You only need an onion, a few tomatoes, garlic and ginger, and some added spices to prepare the flavoursome gravy.
Directions on how to make butter chicken:
Stir the yogurt and the tandoori masala powder [mixture of the above mentioned powders] together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Then add the chicken and mix evenly. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
The trick to making the perfect gravy is to add in some onion, tomatoes, ginger, and garlic. Let the cook for at least 10-15 minutes, until they are almost dry on your pan. Add in some water and let it simmer for 2 minutes.
Once the mixture gets to room temperature, blend until smooth and add in your cream (heavy whipping cream or thickened cream). Heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium heat. Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes in the hot oil until lightly browned on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee on the pan and fry the onion-tomato gravy paste in the hot ghee for about 3 minutes, until the moisture has mostly evaporated. Sprinkle some garam masala and chilli powder over the mixture and cook for another 5 minute.
As soon as you observe the oil releasing from the gravy on the sides of the pan, add the chicken to the pan. Bring to a boil after adding some milk to the gravy. Add the butter, fenugreek leaves, and salt to the gravy. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until the chicken pieces are no longer pink in the middle.
Remove it in the serving bowl and serve immediately. If you want a richer gravy, feel free to add a couple tablespoons of butter (or ghee) right at the end as a garnish, letting it melt through the gravy, before serving.
Here is an elaborate butter chicken recipe for you to enjoy. For delicious delights and the best authentic flavours of butter chicken visit Kritunga, the best andhra cuisine | Jagavis Kritunga restaurant.
